@charles1dad SO...Yeah the 300b XLS definitely is the right tube for the added dynamics and control. The bass presentation is nearly as good as solid-state, but a hair more punchier and shocking on kodo drums using the Nords. I prefer the overall presentation on the tube amplifier as it's just a more emotional experience. Being a no feedback design it will never mirror what the Nords do deep down with regards to the control of the woofers, but I can live with that compromise. I find the Nords very exciting to listen to, even shocking at times, but there's a realness and organic quality to the tube amplifier that it doesn't convey. I feel like exciting and shocking wears you down and leads to fatigue after awhile, but it can easily seduce you in the short term. Life would be so much easier if I could switch back and forth to either presentation based on my mood, but at least swapping the amps in and out is relatively quick for me with how my equipment is oriented and spread out. I'm listening to Tracie Chapman's Let it Rain Album and her voice is so resolute, palpable, and dynamic that it's haunting to listen to. This MTM array is very revealing. I hear things that I never knew existed before on familiar recordings and it's a very odd experience to me because I rarely say that because it sounds so cliche. Call me cliche then because the low level detail retrieval is revelatory on the Encores. Delineation between voices and various instruments is on par with best I've heard at shows and when I was involved in high end in the past. They do the holographic effect very well. I just wish was my room was deeper so I could get further away to let the soundstage develop more appropriately. I don't mind the near-field presentation sonically, but I think there's more to gain in image depth and width that a larger room affords you by bringing the speakers further into the room and my seating position further away with more space between the speakers, but I'll get over it. Moving is not on my to do list having just dealt with heart troubles so I'm taking it easy for now. If you have questions for me regarding the Encores let me know and I'll do my best to answer them. I highly recommend them to anyone on the fence considering them. They are worth many times their price to me just in the short time I've had them. Happy Listening!
